The Commission on Population and Development (CPD), formerly Population Commission (PopCom), will break ground for the construction of their new office building at the DA Compound along M. Velez Street in Cebu City in April this year.
This was what Usec Lisa Grace Bersales, accompanied by CPD 7 director Atty. Bruce Ragas, told Gov. Gwen Garcia during a meeting at the Capitol on February 27.
“Gov, thank you so much. We are here to personally thank you for your generosity for the Commission on Population Development,” Usec Bersales said.
CPD, an attached agency of the National Economic and Development Authority, is the lead agency policy-making and coordination of the country’s population management programs.
It is the first agency presently occupying Capitol-owned lots along M. Cuenco Ave. in Banilad, Cebu City to begin their relocation process by breaking ground at the DA Compound, another Capitol-owned property.
“We have a bigger lot, and it says it’s ready for us to already use. We were there this morning, and I’m very happy to say that we have a very good place for our new home,” USec Bersales told 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬.
In Banilad, they are occupying a 501-square-meter property. They have received an upgrade at the DA for the Capitol has allocated for them 1,008 sq-m area, more than doubling what they are presently occupying.
This is a win-win situation as the Capitol is looking to maximize the full economic potentials of its Banilad Properties, especially that the Cebu City Government has delineated them as Commercial II areas due to its proximity to the Cebu IT Park.
“It is very beautiful; we have already finished the road network there, all concreted, and you’d be in much better shape there than needing to fight with the traffic in Banilad,” Gov. Garcia told Usec. Bersales.
In October last year, during Gov. Garcia’s birthday, CPD and four other agencies signed an agreement with the Capitol for their relocation from Banilad to either M. Velez or in Capitol-owned lots in Sudlon, Lahug.
Once the relocation of these offices is completed, Capitol will soon develop the area into income-generating ventures, which would mean additional revenues that would help fund the various programs and services of the Capitol. | Babie Jane Revecoy